President Obama is coming to Iowa on Monday. The president will join Education Secretary Arne Duncan at North High School in Des Moines. It’s part of the secretary’s “Back-to-School” bus tour.
Polk County had a number of school board elections that shook up a few boards…although not in Ankeny, where incumbents held their seats. Des Moines school board chair Cindy Elsbernd maintained her seat as well, with three newcomers joining her. West Des Moines’ president was also re-elected, but two other incumbents were not. Johnston incumbents Greg Dockum, Deb Henry and Jill Morrow kept their posts.
The hiring of a former IBM exec for the presidency at the University of Iowa has prompted a no confidence vote from the university senate for the Board of Regents. The senate has no power to reverse the decision to appoint Bruce Harreld, so it’s largely a symbolic move, but the faculty says it plans to take other steps.
The state auditor is shaking her head at plans to keep the two-year-old property tax cut approved by state lawmakers in place longterm. After reviewing the budget, Mary Mosiman says continuing the rollback for several years does not follow sound budgeting practices.
A veterans monument at Young’s Park that features a soldier kneeling at a cross gets to stay. The city council last night approved keeping the cross in place, despite complaints from the group Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
The city of Clive wants to get input from residents on its Greenbelt Master Plan. Folks are invited to a free open house on September 17th from 4:30 to 6:30 at the Clive Special Events Building to give their take on the plan and make suggestions.
Des Moines-based Meredith Corporation is being bought out by Richmond-based Media General for just under 2-and-a-half billion dollars. The new company will be called Meredith Media General, and maintain offices in both cities, according to officials.
A proposal to station 200 soldiers and ten helicopters at Des Moines International Airport is expected to resolve the Guard’s current lease dispute with the city. The dispute erupted because the Guard had a dollar-a-year lease with the airport, as long as it had an aeronautical mission, but it moved the F-16s out of Des Moines. The use of Blackhawks would justify the discounted rent.
Police in Ames are investigating the vandalization of 18 cars in a three block radius in the city. Three vehicle fires were reported early Monday morning, leading to the discovery of the other trashed vehicles.
Miss Iowa Taylor Wiebers has won the talent competition in the first round of the Miss America Pageant. The new Miss America will be crowned on Sunday on ABC.
